Page 69 of Brightness

“There’s a library?” Ivy gasps.

“Have a good time, you two. You’re in lockdown as of now. No venturing off anywhere,” Hurricane instructs.

I pull Ivy to me tightly, and we watch the two large men stomp to their rides, then take off, kicking up stones and leaving us alone—truly alone—for the first time since we met that night I stole her from the boat.

Now, it’s just Ivy and me, and no one to interrupt our time together.

Not Nycto.

Not Eva.

Certainly not Dash.

We might be here because we’re in danger, but at least we’re together.

The roar of the Harleys drift off into the distance, and I walk over to the door, then dead-bolt it.

Can’t be too safe.

Ivy slowly strolls around the living room, her fingers gently stroking all the little trinkets. “Why is this happening, Void?”

“I’m not sure.” I sigh. “At first, I thought it might have been Tony, trying to get one over on us. But he assures us it’s not him. When we went to chat with him, he was pretty convincing. So, it got me to thinking who else it could be.”

She turns to face me, her eyes hopeful. “And?”

“When I totaled my ride when I was tripping, hallucinating, I thought I was seeing shit.”

Ivy moves over to stand in front of me. “You’re not making any sense. What does this have to do with anything?”

I reach out, grabbing her hand. “When I was tripping, I thought I saw someone from my past.”

Ivy jerks her head back in shock. “But aren’t they all in jail?”

Pulling her with me, I walk with her over to the floral sofa, then sit us down. There’s a laptop on the coffee table, so I open the lid. “Let’s find out.”

We both sit on the excessively soft sofa, sinking too far into it. I adjust my position and start typing into the search engine for my father’s jail records. I scroll until I find what I need. “Fuck.” I groan under my breath.

“What?” Ivy asks, leaning in closer to try and see.

“His records indicate he’s been let out. Reduced sentence for good behavior.”

Ivy draws her bottom lip in by her teeth while I run my fingers through my hair. My pulse quickens as my mind flashes back to the statue in the trees. “Jesus. Maybe when I saw my father in the woods, I wasn’t tripping. Maybe he was actually there.”

Ivy wraps her arms around mine for comfort. “What would your father want with you now?”

“I’m not sure. I was taken from him. Maybe he doesn’t realize I want nothing to do with that life anymore.”

“You believe he’s starting the cult back up?”

“Absolutely. He’d be quiet about it, though. But a man like him? He’s smart. He’d play the judicial system so easily. He would do his time, be a good boy, get out early, and start up all over again. I’m sure he’ll want his disciples by his side.”

“And he sees you as one of his disciples?”

My lip curls, my stomach swirling with nausea. “Not only a disciple, but a legacy. He not only would want me there, but he also needs me.”

“So, he’s targeting me to get to you?”

“I think so.”

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